Safety takes a back seat at cattle markets
Even though the cattle markets in the capital were scheduled to start from Saturday, they are already witnessing large crowds as not only traders are bringing in sacrificial animals, people are also thronging there to purchase those, even amid the lockdown.
This is also increasing the risk of further spread of coronavirus as both buyers and traders were seen not maintaining health guidelines at the markets.
Traders have already started to bring in their cattle since Friday.
During visits to markets including Dhupkhola playground, North Shahjahanpur, Kachukhet and Gabtali, it was seen that most traders as well as visitors did not have masks on.
Besides, the market authorities did not set up any hand washing facility and thermal scanner to check body temperature. There was also no hand sanitiser available as part of the health guidelines.
This year, the two Dhaka city corporations are setting up 20 cattle markets -- 10 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 10 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), including the permanent one at Gabtali.
Mohammad Polas Ali, a trader who brought 19 bulls from Jhenaidah on Friday at Dhupkhola, said they came early to get a good place at the market. He and his associates were not wearing masks.
Asked about health guidelines, he said they were asked to wear masks and wash hands regularly but they cannot do so all the time due to their work.
The situation at Gabtai was the worst as it was swarming with traders, buyers and visitors.
The buyers, mostly from outside Dhaka, are purchasing the animals to sell those at markets in their districts like Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni and Cumilla.
Many Dhaka residents were also seen there, buying cattle beforehand to avoid the rush ahead of Eid.
"I purchased two bulls for Tk 1.16 lakh," said Tauhid Hasan, a resident of Azimpur Sheikh Saheb Bazar.
Shahidul Islam, a trader at Gabtali, who brought 15 cattle to the market on Friday, said so far the number of buyers is much more compared to that of last year.
"I've already sold five bulls and hope that I'll be able to sell the rest within a couple of days," he said.
Rakib Imran, a leaseholder of Gabtali cattle market, said they will set up required health facilities at different points before July 17.
"We did not realise people in droves would start to come to the market, for which we could not ensure those," he said.
Meanwhile, DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam on Sunday told The Daily Star that they will set up the cattle markets maintaining health guidelines and have already formed monitoring committees in this regard.
He said they are setting up 10 cattle markets and there will be a monitoring team in each market. They will also initiate mobile court drives.
"We will take immediate action if we find violation of health guidelines. We have already instructed lease holders in this regard," he said.
DSCC chief estate officer Rusel Sabrin echoed him. In case of violation, they will take immediate action including cancelling the market, he said.
There will be monitoring teams and mobile courts in place to enforce the guidelines once the markets start officially, he said.
MAINTAIN HEALTH GUIDELINES: LGRD MINISTER
Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tazul Islam at a virtual inter-ministerial meeting yesterday asked all to maintain health guidelines at the markets.
He said there will be separate entrances and exits for sellers and buyers, as well as thermal scanners and hand washing facilities at the markets.
"We have also made all arrangements for buying and selling cattle online," he said, encouraging people to use the facility. "Steps will be taken to ensure that online and in-person cattle markets are run in accordance with proper hygiene practices," he added.
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